Luke Pollard MP has warned that passengers in the South West face a ”decade of disruption” to rail services because for the Government’s plans to build a High Speed 2 station alongside the Great Western mainline.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper MP, Mr Pollard says that the government’s plan to build a new station at Old Oak Common in West London for High Speed 2 services will result in disruption and longer journeys for passengers travelling from the South West to the capital.

Mr Pollard also warned that the construction of Old Oak Common will involve a large number of weekend closures of the line between Reading and London Paddington.

Luke Pollard MP, Member of Parliament for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport said:

”Ministers appear to be hiding plans that will deliver a decade of disruption on the railway from voters in the South West.

Without proper mitigation, the government’s plans to build a new station at Old Oak Common in West London will result in a decade of disruption for passengers in the South West.

It is clear to me that they are seeking to hide this disruption until after a General Election. We need Ministers to come clean about their plan now and what mitigations they are planning.”